Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path
Flint, Michigan · on C S Mott Lake · Genessee Recreation Area
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- Year-round
About Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path
Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path is a Genesee County Parks-managed swimming beach on C.S. Mott Lake, just northeast of downtown Flint, Michigan. It is an officially designated, free public swim beach, an easy in-town swimming hole paired with a splash pad, playground, and direct paved-trail access to the Flint River Bike Path.
The park sits at 5500 N. Bray Road in Flint, on the shore of C.S. Mott Lake, a reservoir within the Genesee Recreation Area county park system. It connects via paved pathway to the Flint River Bike Path and the broader Flint River Trail network, including the nearby Stepping Stone Falls & Picnic Area.
Swimming at Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path
A sandy, lake-shore swimming beach on C.S. Mott Lake with no lifeguards on duty, intended for casual family swimming and sunbathing; 14 shade kites (donated by the Ruth Mott Foundation) provide shade over the beach area. It is paired with a zero-depth spray-ground splash pad for young children, so the setting suits families and casual swimmers rather than open-water/distance swimmers.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 5500 N. Bray Road, Flint, MI 48505, within the Genesee Recreation Area managed by Genesee County Parks.
Parking: On-site parking lot including handicap-accessible spaces.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- Under 5 minutes walk from parking to the beach.
No hike is needed to reach the water -- Bluebell Beach is a drive-up park with an on-site parking lot immediately adjacent to the sand beach. A paved, ADA-accessible path connects the parking/beach area to the Flint River Bike Path and broader Flint River Trail network (e.g., toward Stepping Stone Falls & Picnic Area), but that trail is an optional recreational add-on, not a required approach to the swimming area.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy, zero-grade lake-shore entry with no lifeguards on duty at either the swim beach or the adjacent splash pad, so young kids need active parent supervision at the open beach; the zero-depth spray-ground splash pad (for kids under 48in) is the safer default for toddlers/young children. No natural hazards like cliffs reported, but it is an unguarded public swim beach on a reservoir subject to periodic bacteria advisories.
Parking
Free
On-site parking lot with handicap-accessible spaces; official park page states free admission to the beach and splash pad (no vehicle pass mentioned for this specific site, unlike some other Genesee County Parks boat-launch sites which charge daily/annual vehicle passes).
Restrooms
Yes
ADA-accessible restrooms on-site at the Bluebell Beach park grounds (per official park page).
Hours
Park grounds open 8:00 AM to sunset, year-round. Splash pad operates 8:00 AM-8:00 PM daily, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend (weather permitting); the swim beach itself is a seasonal (summer) swimming area.
On the water
Restrictions: Mott Lake carries a no-wake speed limit (per Genesee County Parks' Bluegill Boat Launch page). Note: the primary boat/kayak launch point on Mott Lake is Bluegill Boat Launch (4045 E. Coldwater Rd, Flint, MI 48506), a separate Genesee County Parks facility elsewhere on the same lake -- not a designated launch at the Bluebell Beach swim area itself, which is oriented around swimming/sunbathing rather than boat access.
Canoe and paddleboard use on Mott Lake was not explicitly confirmed in sources found; only kayak (via rental) and general no-wake motorboat traffic are documented.
Rentals nearby
Self-service, app-based kayak rental kiosk, available seasonally at Bluegill Boat Launch on Mott Lake
Bluegill Boat Launch, 4045 E. Coldwater Road, Flint, MI 48506 (a separate Mott Lake access point from Bluebell Beach)
Backstory
Beach improvements including the splash pad and shade kites were supported by the Ruth Mott Foundation. The site also hosts Vietnam Veterans memorials, including traveling wall exhibits, per Genesee County Parks' veterans memorials page.
Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path: FAQ
Does Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path charge a fee?
Free admission to the beach and splash pad.
Is Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path kid friendly?
Sandy, zero-grade lake-shore entry with no lifeguards on duty at either the swim beach or the adjacent splash pad, so young kids need active parent supervision at the open beach; the zero-depth spray-ground splash pad (for kids under 48in) is the safer default for toddlers/young children. No natural hazards like cliffs reported, but it is an unguarded public swim beach on a reservoir subject to periodic bacteria advisories.
Do I need to hike to reach Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path?
On-site parking lot with handicap-accessible spaces; official park page states free admission to the beach and splash pad (no vehicle pass mentioned for this specific site, unlike some other Genesee County Parks boat-launch sites which charge daily/annual vehicle passes).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path?
Canoe and paddleboard use on Mott Lake was not explicitly confirmed in sources found; only kayak (via rental) and general no-wake motorboat traffic are documented.
When is the best time to visit Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path?
Beach and splash pad officially open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend; park itself open year-round, 8:00 AM to sunset. Splash pad hours 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily (weather permitting).
What are the rules at Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path?
No alcohol, marijuana, or illegal substances; parents must actively supervise children; no running, rough play, water fights, squirt guns, or water balloons at the splash pad; violations subject to fines up to $100. No lifeguards on duty at the swim beach.
What water body is Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path on?
Bluebell Beach & Flint River Bike Path is on C S Mott Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
